Hedge trimmer



Nov. 24, 1925. 1,562,884

C. HINES HEDGE TRIMMR Filed May 26, 1925 2 sneetssheez 2 m lmlnumllw gyn/vanto@ Patented Nov. 24, 19,25.

CHARLES Hines, or sourir nicniuorm, Visentin.

HEDGE TRIMMER.

Application filed May 26, 1925. Serial No. 39,024. l i:

To all whom i may concern.'

Be it known that I, CHARLES HiNns, a citizen of the United States, residing at South Richmond, in the county of Chesterfield and State of Virginia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements. in Hedge Trimmers, of which the following` is a specification, reference being had to' the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to certain improvements in hedge trimmers and it is an 0bject of the invention to provide a device of this general character which may be employed with convenience and facility in making either a Vertical or a horizontal cut or also effecting a cutting operation at a relatively high point.

It is also an object of the invention to provide a device of this general character comprising a `reciprocating cutter together with manual means for imparting requisite reciprocation thereto.

An additional object of the invention is to provide a device of this kind provided with means whereby the same may be readily and conveniently supported in desired position and whereby the same during the working operation is adapted to be braced against the body of the operator.

The invention consists in the details of construction and in the combination and arrangement of the several parts of my improved hedge trimmer whereby certain important advantages are attained and the device rendered simpler, less expensive an?` otherwisel more convenient and advantageous for use, as will be hereinafter more fully set forth.

The novel features of my invention will hereinafter be definitely claimed.

In order that my invention may be the better understood, I will now proceed to describe the same with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure 1 is a view in top plan illustrating a hedge trimmer constructed in accordance with an embodiment of my invention;

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken sub'- stantially on the line 2-2 of Figure 1;

Figure 8 is a View in side elevation of the device as herein set forth;

Figure 4Q is an enlarged fragmentary view partly in elevation` and partly in section illustrating in `detail the driving connection for the cutting blades.

As disclosed in the accompanying drawings, M denotes a substantially U-shaped member having its side arms 1 forwardly disposed and having in swiveled connection,- as at 2, with its intermediate or base member 3 the brace bracket or yoke L1 which, in operation, is adapted to have direct contact with the body of the user. The swive'led connection 2 permits the member M to have rotatable adjustment with respect to the brace or yoke 1 as the requirements of practice may prefer'. The rear portions of the side arms 1 of the member M are connected by a transveresly disposed strap 5 extending beyond a side of the member M and which provides a rest for the arm of the user supporting the device.`

Hin'gedly connected, as at 6, with the outer end portions of each of the side arms lare the elongated and parallel arms 7. The outer edge of one of the arms 7 has secured thereto a depending plate 8 the outer marginal portion of which being continued by anarcuate arm' 9 extending' 'rearwardly and overlying an outer side edge of an arm 1 of the. member M. This arm 9 is provided therein with an arcuate slot 10 concentric to the hinged connection between the arms 1 and 7 and through which is disposed an outstanding shank 11 carried by said` adjacent arm 1. Threaded upon said shank 11 outwardly of the arm 9is a clamping nut 12 so that the arms 1 and 7 may be effectively held in relatively swinging adustment.

The inner or pivoted end portions of the arms 7 are provided with the bearings 1/1 with which are rotatably engaged the eX- tremities of the shaft 15 the portions of the shaft 15 between the arms 7 being provided with a crank 16. The shaft 15 to one side of the crank 16 has fixed thereto a pinion 17 meshing with a relatively large gear 18 ixed'to a shaft 19. This shaft 19bridges the space between the forward portions of the arms 1 of the member M and is rotatably engaged with the bearings` 20 carried by said arms 1. An end portion of the shaft 19 extends beyond the member M and to said extended portion is fixed an operating crank 21 whereby the shaft 19 may be manually operated.

A pair of superimposed plates 22 have their inner end portions bifurcated to provide rearwardly directed arms 23' overlying the forward end portions of the arms'7 andV secured thereto by the bolts 24 or the like. The inner bolts 24 also provide securing means for an outstanding loop or hand grasp 25 which is adapted to be clasped by the hand of the arm supporting the device in working position, with the rear portion of the forearm in contact with the strap or rest 5.

Arranged between the plates 22 for free reciprocatory movement is a cutter plate 26 provided at predetermined points therealong with the longitudinally directed slots 27. Disposed through these slots 27 are the bolts 28 operating to maintain the plates 22 and the interposed cutter plate 26 in requisite assembled relation, the length of each of the slots 27 being sufficient to prevent hinderance or obstruction being offered to the desired reciprocation of the cutter plate.

The inner or rear end portion of the cutter plate 26 is received within the slotted end portion of a rod 29 and held to such rod by the bolts 30er the like. The outer end portion of the rod 29 has pivotally engaged therewith, as at 3l, an end portion of a pitman 32, the opposite end portion of said pitman being operatively engaged with the crank 16, the throw of such crank determining the extent of the stroke of the cutter plate 26.

One longitudinal marginal portion of the cutter plate 26 is provided with outstanding cutting fingers 33 which work between the outstanding fingers 84: carried by the similar marginal portions of the platesr22, the stroke of the plate 26 being greater than the space between adjacent teeth 84 of each of the plates 22.

I/Vhen the plates 22 are o-f material length, I find it of advantage to dispose lengthwise of one of such plates an elongated member 35, herein disclosed as an angle iron, and

Vwhich is secured to such plate by the bolts 30, said member or angle iron 35 possessing suiiicient rigidity to hold the plates 22 and 26 against iiexure.

When my improved trimmer is employed in` making a substantially vertical cut, the member M is swung to a desired extent with respect to the bracket or yoke 4 and it is also to be understood that the arms 7 may be readily adjusted about their pivotal connection6 as may be required and more particularly when a substantially horizontal cut is being made at a relatively high point.

The structure of my improved device is such to readily permit the removal and application of the plates 22 and the cutter plate 26 and in view of which it is to be understood that when desired a short blade may be readily substituted for a longer one and vice versa.

From the foregoing description it is thought to be obvious that a hedge trimmer ing' out my invention in practice except as A hereinafter claimed.

I claim l. A hedge trimmer comprising, in combination, a substantially U-shaped member,

'a body engaging yoke carried by the base portion of said member, arms pivotally connected with the arms of the U-shaped member, an outstanding plate carried by one of the first named arms and having an arcuate extension arm overlying an arm of the U- shaped member, coacting means carried by said arms of the U-shaped member and with the extension arms to hold the same in different selected adjustments, and a cutting mechanism carried by the second named arms.

2. A hedge trimmer comprising, in combination, a member, a body engaging yoke in swiveled connection therewith, spaced arms hingedly connected with said member, elongated plates secured to said arms, coacting means carried by one of said arms and the member for maintaining said arms against movement about their hinged connection, a cutter plate interposed between the first named plates, means carried by the member and arms for reciprocating said cutter plate, an arm rest carried by the member and extending to one side thereof, and a hand grasp secured to the arms.

3. A hedge trimmer comprising, in combination, a member, a body engaging yoke in swiveled connection therewith, spaced arms hingedly connected with said member, elongated plates secured to said arms, coacting means carried by one of said arms and the member for maintaining said arms against movement Vabout their hinged. connection, a cutter plate interposed between the first named plates, means carried by the member and arms for reciprocating said cutter plate, and a second member disposed along one of the first named plates to hold the plates against fiexure.

4. A hedge trimmer comprising, in combination, a substantially U-shaped member, a body engaging yoke carried by the base portion of said member, arms pivotally connected with the arms of the U-shaped member, an outstanding plate carried by one of the first named arms and having an arcuate extension arm overlying an arm of the U- shaped member, said extension arm having an arcuate slot therein substantially eoneension arm to hold the second named arms trie to the hinged connection between l@he end the US11aped member against relatively arms of the member and the second named Swinging movement, and a, cutting meoha- 10 arms, a shank carried by said arms of the nism carried by the Second named arms. U-sheped member and disposed through the In testimony whereof I hereunto ax my slot off the extension arm, a clamping nut signature.

threaded on said shank to engage the eXten- CHARLES HINES. 

